One position room can help the New England Patriots solve two problems at once
The New England Patriots just lost a wide receiver (again), but the answer to the thinning room may already be on the roster. And it isn’t AJ Brown.
Welcome back to the mix, AJ Brown! The New England Patriots saw Brown get back in the fray in Week 6 — just in time for their wide receiver room to get thrown for a loop once again. This time? Romeo Doubs is injured and destined for a reserve stint.
That’s a tough sequence for any offense. And it’s fair to look at the receivers healthy for New England right now and wonder if they have enough. But if you’re worried about the Patriots wide receiver room, don’t be. They say that tight ends are a quarterback’s best friend, and New England has a tight end room built to absorb this challenge. They should be used more in the weeks ahead.
The New England Patriots’ tight end room should shoulder more of the load amid another wide receiver injury
There’s no shortage of reasons to like where the Patriots stand at tight end. First and foremost, Hunter Henry is locked in and continuing to produce. It’s great to see on the heels of a new contract extension, too. He’s a veteran target Drake Maye already trusts, and he gives the offense a reliable middle-of-the-field option when the outside receivers are in flux. What’s more? Henry has caught 12 of 14 targets the last three weeks, including two touchdowns.
Then there’s Eli Raridon. Raridon was an intriguing prospect coming out of the NFL Draft, and he made his imprint on the team in Week 1 with the first touchdown of the season. He, too has been getting going of late. He caught five passes for 57 yards against the Raiders in Week 5.
There’s an added bonus, too. With the two tight ends, the Patriots can play a little heavier. New England is dealing with injuries up front, too, and putting more bodies on the line of scrimmage is a practical way to offset some of that. A tight end who can block and still threaten as a receiver keeps a defense honest without exposing a thin offensive line. So instead of forcing the issue at receiver, the Patriots can shift the weight of the offense and be able to take another month of injuries at wide receiver in stride. Play the tight ends, New England. As much as possible. You can solve two problems at once if you do.
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